Networked User Interface Back Channel Discovery Via Wired Video Connection

Abstract

In order to establish connections between a presentation device and a display device, the presentation device is plugged into the display device using a wired video connection. The presentation device sends to the display device via a wired video connection a request for information regarding how to connect to the display device via a network. The display device returns the requested information, and the presentation device uses the received information to establish a network connection to the display device. After establishing the network connection to the display device, the presentation device continues to send video to the display device via the wired video connection. The display device displays the video received from the presentation device, and also receives user inputs at the display device. Data describing these user inputs are sent to the presentation device via the network connection for processing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented in a display device, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a presentation device via a wired video connection to the display device, a request for information regarding how to connect to the display device via a network;   sending, from the display device to the presentation device via the wired video connection, the requested information;   establishing, in response to a request from the presentation device based on the requested information, a network connection to the presentation device;   displaying video received from the presentation device via the wired video connection;   receiving, while displaying the video, user input to the display device; and   sending data describing the user input to the presentation device via the network connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the requested information comprising a network address of the display device. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the requested information comprising an identifier of the display device that allows the display device to be distinguished from other display devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the user inputs comprising one or both of touch inputs and digital ink inputs. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the network connection comprising a wireless connection. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the user inputs comprising inputs received via a peripheral device coupled to the presentation device. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the sending the data describing the user input to the presentation device comprising sending the data to the presentation device without acting on the user input. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the wired video connection comprising an HDMI cable. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , the wired video connection comprising a DisplayPort cable. 
     
     
         10 . A method implemented in a presentation device, the method comprising:
 sending, to a display device via a wired video connection from the presentation device, a request for information regarding how to connect to the display device via a network;   receiving, from the display device via the wired video connection, the requested information;   establishing, based on the received information, a network connection to the display device;   sending video to the display device via the wired video connection for display by the display device;   receiving, from the display device via the network connection, data describing user input to the display device received by the display device while displaying the video; and   processing the data describing the user input.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 changing the video being sent based on the data describing the user input; and   sending the changed video to the display device.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , the received information comprising a network address of the display device. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , the establishing the network connection to the display device comprising opening a wireless network connection to the network address. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , the requested information comprising an identifier of the display device that allows the display device to be distinguished from other display devices. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , the method further comprising:
 obtaining, from a record mapping display device identifiers to network addresses, a network address of the display device; and   the establishing comprising opening a network connection to the network address.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , the wired video connection comprising an HDMI cable or a DisplayPort cable. 
     
     
         17 . A display device comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon multiple instructions that, responsive to execution by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive, from a presentation device via a wired video connection between the presentation device and the display device, a request for information regarding how to connect to the display device via a network; 
 send to the presentation device, via the wired video connection, the requested information; 
 establish, in response to a request from the presentation device based on the requested information, a network connection to the presentation device; 
 display video received from the presentation device via the wired video connection; 
 receive, while displaying the video, user input to the display device; and 
 send data describing the user input to the presentation device via the network connection. 
   
     
     
         18 . The display device as recited in  claim 17 , the requested information comprising a network address of the display device. 
     
     
         19 . The display device as recited in  claim 17 , the requested information comprising an identifier of the display device that allows the display device to be distinguished from other display devices. 
     
     
         20 . The display device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein to establish the network connection to the presentation device is to establish the network connection to the presentation device without receiving a user selection of the display device.